Sunita Williams Back on Earth, Her Ancestral Gujarat Village Over the Moon

Residents of Jhulasan, the ancestral village of NASA astronaut Sunita Williams in Gujarat ’s Mehsana district, celebrated on Wednesday morning as she and her colleague Butch Wilmore safely returned to Earth. Their SpaceX capsule successfully landed off the Florida coast, bringing excitement and pride to the village. 

Villagers gathered at a temple to watch the landing live on television. The moment she arrived safely, they expressed their happiness by bursting firecrackers, dancing, and chanting ‘Har Har Mahadev’. 

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Jhulasan Celebrates Sunita Williams' Safe Return from Space with Prayers and Festivities 

The villagers had kept Sunita Williams in their thoughts and prayers, eagerly waiting for her safe return. 

As she made her journey back to Earth, they gathered at the temple to perform a ‘yagna’ and offer prayers. They shared that they had been conducting the yagna and had lit an ‘Akhand Jyot’ (eternal flame) on the temple premises for her safe return. 

Jhulasan, the ancestral village of Sunita Williams' father, Deepak Pandya, had been filled with excitement ever since news of her long-awaited return from the International Space Station (ISS) surfaced. Her stay at the ISS had been extended, making the moment even more significant for the villagers. 

Her cousin, Navin Pandya, shared that the villagers had been praying for her safety and had been maintaining the ‘Akhand Jyot’ (eternal flame), which was lit soon after she departed for space over nine months ago, wishing for her safe return. 

He said the villagers have planned a grand procession in her honour, accompanied by prayer chanting and fireworks to create a festive atmosphere similar to Diwali and Holi . 

A procession will be taken out from the village school to the temple where the ‘Akhand Jyot’ has been kept, with students joining the celebrations, he said. The 'Akhand Jyot' will be immersed after the procession reaches the temple, he said. 

“We have organised a procession with Sunita Williams’ photograph and will perform a dhun (prayer chanting) at the temple,” said Pandya. 

He said the villagers are looking forward to inviting Williams to visit Jhulasan. 

Sunita Williams’ India Visit  

Sunita Williams has visited India at least three times, including in 2007 and 2013, following her space missions. In recognition of her achievements, she was honoured with the Padma Bhushan in 2008. 

Her father, originally from Jhulasan, moved to the United States in 1957. 

Vishal Panchal, the principal of Jhulasan Primary School, shared that elaborate arrangements had been made for Wednesday’s celebrations. 

(With PTI Inputs) 

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